Chaplain

Responsibilities

• Delivers wholistic ministry of spiritual care for patients, families, team members and physicians.
• Provides spiritual care, consultation and short-term counseling to patients, families, physicians, and team members as assigned and in accordance with site and system policies, facilitates sacramental ministries.
• Responds to codes, emergencies and/or crises.
• Assists families with their needs in relation to the patient’s illness so they can provide supportive care to the patient: assists family members in understanding procedures surrounding a death and in contacting families or other significant persons.
• Promotes patient safety by reporting of issues through established channels and participating in safety initiatives.
• Participates in the life and work of the department and patient service area to assure integrated efficient services; participates in providing overall site coverage, including weekends and holidays, conducts services as scheduled; serves on department, site, or system committees as assigned.
• Participates in patient care planning, interdisciplinary team activities and development, staff and patient directed support groups, orients new team members; participate in grand rounds, case conferences, team meetings, identifying resolving ethical dilemmas in assigned areas.
• Provides consultation to team members to assess the role of a patient’s faith in recovery.
• Represents the values of the religious communities to health care professionals and hospital associates.
• Collaborates with the clinical pastoral education program by mentoring and/or orienting students as assigned and providing feedback to CPE Supervisor regarding student performance and educational needs.
• Supports and interprets the mission and values of Advocate Aurora Health in clinical and departmental responsibilities and team member engagement.
• Supports the hospital ministry of parish clergy through referrals, consultation and education.
• Participates in educational initiatives and support groups for patients and families, team members, community and faith groups; provides spiritual health education, crisis support and debriefings.
• Maintains good standing and ecclesiastical endorsement through active participation in the life and work of one’s faith group.

Qualifications

• 4 units of CPE, at least three accredited by ACPE (CPE not required in Georgia).
• Eligible for board certification as a chaplain: APC/BCCI, NACC, NAJC; completed within 18 months of hire.
• Endorsed by faith group.
• Completed graduate degree (MA, MDiv) in religious studies, theology, divinity or related field.
• Prior clinical experience as a chaplain: 3 years.

Skills

• Must be able to participate in overnight and weekend on-call rotation per the department schedule, including moving between sites of care as needed.
• Excellent oral and written communication and human relation skills.
• Demonstrated group process skills and leadership.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to address and resolve conflicts.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Competence in cross-cultural communication, cultural humility and religious diversity.
• Ability to trust, adapt to change, and to work with diverse personalities, cultures and faith traditions.

Requirements

• May be exposed to blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary.
• Availability and transportation to serve on-call rotation as needed.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, and bend throughout the workday.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.